Draw me a speech: Six speechwriting lessons from eight years of cartooning
Eight years of drawing Noise to Signal has taught me a lot about cartooning… and almost as much about speechwriting.
Why leaders should embrace gotcha questions
The long-standing Republican hostility toward the news media was on full display last week after the CNBC GOP presidential debate. And it led them to fall into a trap that tempts many speakers: settling for easy wins instead of preparing for difficult questions. Even...
Being there: Why a seat in the audience can make you a better speechwriter
Sometimes, there’s just no fighting geography. And the truth is, there’s no faster or better feedback on how a speech you wrote goes over than to be in the audience when it does.That’s often hard, especially if the speech is in another city, or if your speechwriting...
"Great speech! Did you write it?" How to answer the QUESTION OF DOOM
Being in the audience when a speaker delivers a speech you’ve written is great, for all kinds of reasons. But it does hold one big danger: being asked, “Did you write it?”See if you can spot where this conversation at a banquet table after a luncheon...
Putting the ‘numb’ in ‘numbers’: Don’t let statistics sap your speech’s emotional punch
I recently saw a speech by someone clearly accustomed to the public spotlight and comfortable on the stage. She had an important message to deliver about a profound social injustice. She spoke with authority and confidence.And she spent nearly all twenty minutes of...
A guide to formatting speaking notes
You’ve written the speech, and it has everything: moving anecdotes, a few telling facts, a gripping narrative, a rousing call to action and a conclusion that will have your speaker’s audience on their feet. (Clapping, not leaving. Important distinction there.)...
Why, yes — I’d LOVE to speak at your event
Public speaking and speechwriting: the essential guides
Looking for advice on public speaking, speechwriting and leadership communications? Here are some of my most comprehensive posts, on topics that people ask me about most often.
